“Hopefully he’ll be able to find a job next year and he’ll be able to play.”

The Mavs will replace Jones with point guard Chris Wright, who averaged 15.5 points and seven assists in 38 games this season for the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. Wright, who played in last month’s D-League All-Star game, may be on the roster in time to suit up for Tuesday’s game in Milwaukee.

Jones was a first-round pick — the 25th overall — of the 2010 NBA Draft out of South Florida. But he never could match, on the court, the brash and cocky things that came out of his mouth.

“We let him go,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We just thought it was time to make that move and look at some other guys. It was time to move on.”

Jones, 24, was in a free-fall with the Mavs for some time. The three-year veteran played just five games — for a total of 29 minutes —since Jan. 1, and sat out the other 25 because of a coach’s decision.

A source said the Mavs wanted to send Jones to play for the Texas Legends of the D-League so he could polish his game, but Jones refused.

Another source said: “This gives Dominique the opportunity to get the playing time he believes he deserves with another team.”